Swimmers find warning signs at Wollaston Beach

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation is warning people that Wollaston Beach may not be safe to swim in because of potential high bacteria counts.

Cody Shepard The Enterprise @cshepard_ENT

QUINCY – Because of the rain that fell Monday and the additional rain anticipated Tuesday and today, officials are warning that Wollaston Beach may not be safe for swimming.

Quincy received about a half-inch of rain Monday, according to the National Weather Service office in Taunton.

Signs warning that swimming may lead to illness are often posted at Wollaston Beach after large amounts of rainfall.

“We have a precautionary posting for Wollaston Beach,” said state Department of Conservation and Recreation spokesman William Hickey. “The way Wollaston Beach is situated, after we get a major rain event or a series of thunderstorms, it can tend to go higher on the bacteria level.”

Quincy’s public health commissioner, Andrew Scheele, said the current posting is precautionary because bacteria test results aren’t received until 24 hours after the water samples are taken.

“When we take a test this morning, we won’t get those results until 24 hours later, so that’s why we’re closing it today,” he said Tuesday. “We anticipate it will be a high count from past performance.”

High bacteria counts have caused closure of the entire beach at least 15 times a year since 2008, according to the state Department of Public Health. Fecal bacteria levels in saltwater samples obtained at four sites along the beach closed the beach 17 times last year.

Hickey said the department considers more than 104 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters to be a high bacteria count.

Scheele said: “If it rains, you should wait two full tide cycles before you go back in swimming. other Nature does a good job clearing it out.”

Hickey said he didn’t know when the beach would reopen for swimming.

“We’re getting the results back this afternoon,” he said. “At that point, we’ll analyze them, see what they say, then we’ll act accordingly. We will test daily until the levels come down.”

Although there are warning signs, swimming is not prohibited, Hickey said.

“You certainly could go swimming if you want to. It’s not closed,” he said.